Piezoelectric force sensor

US5499541A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Robert Bosch GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Gerald Hopf · Reutlingen, DE
• Botho Ziegenbein · Reutlingen, DE
• Bernd Maihoefer · Simpsonville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 21, 1994
• Grant date: Mar 19, 1996
• Expiry date: Jul 21, 2014

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S84/24
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A piezoelectric force sensor includes a piezoelectric plate, with one electrode on each of the top and bottom sides of the plate. One of the electrodes is electrically connected via a conductor to a contact pad. In the case that the piezoelectric plate experiences breakage, the conductor is broken, and the remaining residual capacitance of the conductor and contact pad becomes so comparatively small that the breakage can be reliably detected.